Instead, the former middleweight champion promised to continue
pursuing his passion “no matter what happens.” What that means
going forward remains to be seen.

Silva was
provisionally suspended and pulled from a middleweight clash
against Kelvin
Gastelum scheduled for Nov. 25 in Shanghai after being flagged
for a potential anti-doping violation in an out-of-competition
sample collected on Oct. 26. On Tuesday, “The Spider” released a
statement via his Instagram account.

“Obviously, I think everything is part of a process of evolution,
with each passing day, I can learn more about who I am. I’m here to
thank all my fans, especially my coaches and all the contributors
for this long journey. I can’t express my feelings and how sad I
am, because we all invest love, passion and time in this camp, I
don’t know exactly the plans of GOD for me, but anyway, I can only
thank him and all of you, for the love and affection, nothing is
more gratifying at this moment than having you by my side,” Silva
wrote.

“I will not give up, much less stop doing what I love, not because
of fame or money, it’s because I love to fight. So no matter what
happens from now on, nothing changes, my plans are the same,
nothing has changed. A big kiss for everyone and see you soon.”

It is not Silva’s first failed drug test. The 42-year-old Brazilan
previously tested positive for two different anabolic steroids —
drostanolone metabolites and androstane — prior to a January 2015
bout against Nick Diaz at
UFC 183. He also tested positive for oxazepam, an anxiety
medication, and temazepam, an anti-insomnia medication, in a
post-fight drug test, along with drostanolone metabolites again.
Silva claimed that a tainted sexual enhancement pill resulted in
the positive test, but he was still suspended one year by the
Nevada Athletic Commission.

Silva is still entitled to a full legal review process before any
sanctions are imposed by USADA for his current violation. The
one-time pound-for-pound king last appeared at UFC 208, where he
earned his first win in six Octagon appearances with a
controversial unanimous verdict over Derek
Brunson.

Recently dethroned middleweight champion Michael
Bisping agreed to replace Silva on short notice and will now
face Gastelum in the new UFC Fight Night 122 headliner.